Baton Rouge Dermatologists

What Are My Options to Address Mild Acne?

I have moderate acne and I don't know what I can do to clear it up.

I agree, a local dermatologist will certainly be able to help you. 

Assuming it is acne that you are dealing with, I think a good place to start is with a daily benzoyl peroxide wash (over-the-counter is OK) and a leave on "retinoid" type cream (such as tretinoin or adapalene) which requires a prescription. 

Initially this combination may cause some dryness (use a moisturizer as needed) but give it at least 2 months to start working. 

Connor Patterson, MD

Baton Rouge Dermatologist

How Do Juvederm and Restylane Compare, Safety-wise?

Juvederm and Restylane are the 2 leading commercial brands of hyaluronic acid, the most popular facial filler in the U.S. Since both are bacterially-derived types of the same substance, their safety profile is nearly identical. I think of them as "Coke" and "Pepsi"... a little different, but basically the same thing. They do have different degrees of cross linking, which differentiates them, but does not affect safety.

In general the most important safety factor for both is having them injected by an experienced provider. This will help avoid the most dangerous pitfalls, such as vascular occlusion. Swelling, redness, and bruising are the most common side effects, and allergies may occur with both, but are rare.

I would recommend speaking with your physician about the side effects and risks. Experienced physicians use both products depending on the patient preferences and location of injection.

Chad L. Prather, MD

Baton Rouge Dermatologist

Tretinoin & Peeling

I am writing about Tretinoin usage. One of the side effects of using this medication is peeling of the skin. There are people who say that this is a side-effect that is caused by either adjusting to the medication, or overuse. Is it accurate to assume that the peeling is a sign of the medication doing it's job - at, perhaps, an accelerated rate? If this is the case, is it safe just so long as there is no other irritation of the skin or signs of dryness? Thanks!

Tretinoin should do the job.  The adjustment period typically lasts 2-6 weeks and doesn't necessarily mean that it is working faster... switching to every other day use for the first few weeks may alleviate the peeling/irritation.  Nevertheless though, as long as the irritation is mild, you could certainly just treat through it (with daily use) with the expectation that it will decrease/resolve in a few weeks.

Connor Patterson, MD

Baton Rouge Dermatologist